The Willie Fritz era begins in 2024 as the Cougars face their second attempt at climbing the Big 12 mountain. Fritz wins everywhere he goes, but it that success doesn’t always arrive with his moving truck. He’d rather build it from the ground up than duct tape it together. And while that is good news the Coogs in the long run, it might lead to some frustrations in 2024. The Big 12 is a slug fest and none of the new squads did well in Year 1 in the Power Five, including Cincinnati. Expecting much improvement after a coaching change and while adding programs such as Arizona and Utah is a tough ask. 

HOUSTON COUGARS 

2023 record: 4-8 
2024 record prediction: 4-8 

BIGGEST GAME – vs. Baylor on Nov. 23 

Even Houston fans with realistic expectations and a rational timeline for improvements under Fritz wants to see the Cougars peaking towards the end of the season. The last home game of the year takes place in the second to last week of the regular season. Baylor is another in-state Big 12 squad with shaky expectations in 2024. But unlike Houston, the Bears coach might be exiting stage right after the season if it doesn’t go well. Houston knocked off the Bears in an overtime victory in Waco last season. Beating Baylor again could spell the end for Dave Aranda and serve as a springboard into 2025. 

TRAP GAME – vs. Rice on Sept. 14 

Finding a trap game for a team with low expectations is never easy. Picking one against an in-city rival that knocked you off last year might not be fair, but history suggests the Cougars walk into the Week 3 clash as heavy favorites. Add in the fact that the game is sandwiched between a trip to Oklahoma and a trip to Cincinnati to start Big 12 play, and it isn’t out of the question that the Cougars don’t play their best for a second straight year against the Owls. 

As an aside, the winner of the Houston-Rice game should receive more than the Bayou Bucket. The winner should also get the honor of wearing their baby blue alternates in the next year’s matchup. 

UPSET ALERT – vs. Kansas State on Nov. 2 

The gap between the great Big 12 teams and the bottom of the conference isn’t as drastic as it is in the SEC or Big 10, and that’s why we think the Big 12 will be the most exciting and parity-riddled conference in the country in 2024 and beyond. That means teams like the Cougars can pull upsets. Kansas State is likely in conference title game contention when they travel to Third Ward and face the Cougars. Maybe Houston can catch the Wildcats napping. 

FULL SCHEDULE 

Aug. 31                 UNLV                     
Sept. 7                  at Oklahoma  
Sept. 14               Rice                        
Sept. 21               at Cincinnati  
Sept. 28               Iowa State        
Oct. 5                     at TCU                  
Oct. 19                 at Kansas          
Oct. 26                 Utah                       
Nov. 2                    Kansas State  
Nov. 16                 at Arizona          
Nov. 23                 Baylor                   
Nov. 30                 at BYU